video of the 12x12 opening night exhibition!

Here is a short video of the opening night from the 12x12 group exhibition! Take a look:

The first wave of works have been uploaded to the official site (there are over 100 works in the show) and more paintings keep moving!

Take a look here at the pieces listed so far. You can acquire artworks directly from the site.

The exhibit is up unil September 22nd! 

12x12, Gallery Abyss opening night photos

If you missed the opening of 12x12 this past Saturday, Gallery ABYSS has uploaded some great shots from the event on their website. You can view them here:

THE SHOW IS STILL UP! You have until September 22nd to check it out in person. fb event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1067384330002872/

The Memory Thief

LAST NIGHT was Gallery Abyss' 12x12 group show! THANK YOU to everyone who attended! 

It may not be a fun question, but let me ask you quickly:

What is the most valuable thing that someone can steal from you? 

Your signifigant other? Your children? Your pet? An heirloom? Your savings? Your mobility? ...Your iPhone?

What would you do if you lost all your memories? 

This was the inspiration behind my most recent painting, The Memory Thief, which I produced for Gallery Abyss' 12x12 group show. I would like to tell you about it.

The character in the lower left corner is a memory thief and a cerebral menace.

He breaks into the subconscious of the elderly whose aging immune system can no longer combat his advances. He steals their memories and sells the information. You may notice, he doesn't actually touch the memories encased in his lock box - doing so would infect and alter them. I also theorized that the more fond the memory, the more vibrant glow it emits as seen in the trail of his exit.

Sadly, the repercussions of his larceny are devastating. His victims are ushered into a state of dementia. 

I know it is not a fun painting... and is harder to place in a room than a basket of flowers, so why would I paint such a melancholy image to begin with? 

Well, the goal with my art has always been to connect with others in an honest manner. To create and present you with things I'm not invested in is disingenuous and unworthy of your attention. 

As I now watch some people in my life I care about very much undergo memory loss, it's made me search for reasoning. When none can be found, alternative narrations are sought (like the one theorized above).

I guess in some way I am hoping you will find something relateable. Maybe found in one of your own memories. Hang on to them.  

As an artist, you always hope that your work will resonate with people. But you really don't know unless someone goes out of their way to inform you. I received the E-mail below in response to the latest newsletter I sent out prior to the 12x12 opening last night. The facebook message was sent to me by a friend after I released the image online. (Some of the information has been withheld to retain their privacy.)

The painting is no longer available - it SOLD opening night. You can find more info about the exhibit and see some of the works available here.

-Jono

The Memory Thief - preview

ll done a new painting called 'The Memory Thief'. The‬ painting is for the 12x12 group show coming up at Gallery ABYSS opening August 6th (next Saturday). Hope you can make it!

Click here for the facebook event info.

12x12 - tonal

First peek at 'The Memory Thief' - a new painting I'm creating for the 12x12 group show at Galerie Abyss opening August 6! 

fb event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1067384330002872/

Video from 12x12 group exhibition

Here is a short video shot during the opening of the 12x12 group show that happened last month at Galerie Abyss.

The Tattoo themed exhibition continues until October 2nd. You can see all the works from the show here.

The Boastful Ghost - framed!

THIS SATURDAY EVENING at Galerie Abyss, a new group exhibition opens up called 'Tattoos'. It is a tribute to - you guessed it - tattoos and tattoo culture just in time for Montreal's Tattoo Festival happening next weekend (September 11th - 13th).

Click here for Galerie Abyss Tattoo art show facebook event info.

 

I will have a framed 'The Boastful Ghost' print available in the show. I figure, if you're going to buy a print, you're going to frame it at some point anyway - why not just buy it already framed? (The framed image also comes with a FREE Thoughts & Progress: The Boastful Ghost booklet!)
Dimensions of frame are 17.5"x17.5". Contact the gallery if you are interested.

If you would like to purchase an edition of the image, but will forgo framing for now: You can purchase one of the very few remaining prints here.

'Fleeting Focus' preview

Here is a teaser preview of the final painting, 'Fleeting Focus' for Galerie Abyss'  12x12 group exhibition. See the entire painting - and many more works for sale - THIS Thursday night! 

 12x12, Opening: Thursday August 6th, 7:00 - 10:00pm

1520 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal

click here for facebook event info

Fleeting Focus - palette

My palette for the painting 'Fleeting Focus' all done now (for the 12"x12" show at Galerie Abyss, August 6). James Gurney in his book 'Color and Light' (which I recommend highly) discusses color strings: premixing separate values of the same color to save time. (Note the separate mixes of blues and pinks. The Gray in the corner is the subjective neutral color used for mixing.)

Galerie Abyss group show - August 6, 2015

My next group show is happening August 6th (two weeks from today) at Galerie Abyss! It is a 12"x12" show: each artist creates new work in the 12"x12" dimensions at a uniform price. This show is really catered to emerging collectors. If you've  been very interested in acquiring work by myself (or other talented artists in the show), this is an effective way to build a valuable collection.  

I am producing one new piece for the exhibition. Here are some studies for the drawing. 

LAST YEAR'S FEARS - video of the opening

Thank you videographer, Claudel Désir , Galerie Abyss and all artists involved! If you were unable to make it to the opening of LAST YEAR'S FEARS - here is what you missed:

Show runs until Saturday Feb.28th! https://www.facebook.com/events/1540896099516718/1552117668394561/?comment_id=1552124938393834&notif_t=event_mall_comment

TALES OF THE MUNDANE

THANK YOU everyone who attended the opening last night! If you weren't able to make it, the exhibition runs until February 28th at Galerie Abyss.

My piece for the show is called 'TALES OF THE MUNDANE'. The painting is about a life of unseized potential and the dangerous lure of complaisance.

Visually, the piece is an obvious parody of the famous 'TALES FROM THE CRYPT' comic book header. Mundane is not a frightening word ...until you really think about it - mundane is a slow uneventful death. I like how the horror font contrasts the seemingly unrelated text. I had a lot of fun building the textures on the painting and making it look like an aged, frayed, moldy comic book that's been sitting in someone's damp cellar for 40 years. Those textures represent neglect and the inescapable passage of time.

 

LAST YEAR'S FEARS - TONIGHT at Galerie Abyss!

The group exhibition I've been curating called LAST YEAR'S FEARS is TONIGHT at Galerie Abyss, 1520 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, 7:00pm -10:00pm! The works are hung the show is looking incredible. You definitely want to see it in person!

Annnnd the final daily fear quote before the show is very appropriate seeing as the event is tonight! What will be YOUR course of action? I present: influential author, public speaker, and educator - Dale Carnegie:
 

click here for facebook event info

Salvador Dali on the topic of fear:

Last Year's Fears - a group exhibition I'm curating featuring 19 artists who have painted something they are afraid of will open tomorrow night, Jan. 29th at Galerie Abyss (1520 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal)! On the facebook event page, I've been posting one quote about fear per day. Today's fear quote: master surrealist, Salvador Dali!

See you all tomorrow night!

Robert Williams on the topic of fear

Last Year's Fears, a group exhibition I'm curating about the premise of fears, will now open in less than one week! On the facebook event page, I've been posting one quote about fear per day. Yesterday's fear quote is among my personal favorites and belongs to 'low brow art' legend and founder of JUXTAPOZ magazine (and a big influence on a personal level), Robert Williams. (below)

Last Year's Fears opening night: Thursday, January 29 7:00-10:00pm at Galerie Abyss, 1520 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Show runs until February 28th)

Last Year's Fears - painting preview

Out of the 12 basic colors, one I use the least in my paintings is red. ...But all that's about to change with the painting I've completed for Last Year's Fears ( http://on.fb.me/1xwichC ) Here is a sneak peek. (Wait - is that that mould in the corner?? ewww.)

Last Year's Fears - opening in 3 weeks

Happy 2015 to you all! I hope you all had a healthy and happy holiday.

Coming up fast (just 3 weeks away) is the group exhibition I'm curating called 'Last Year's Fears'. 19 artists will face their fears via original new paintings. I have seen some of the incredible works so far and the artists involved have not restrained themselves. Join us for the opening January 27th!
(Exhibition poster in post below.)